aid smiling; and then we
went on threading our way amongst the magnificent trees, and every now
and then coming upon one standing all alone, its position having allowed
of its growing into a perfect state.

Again we came upon one of these, literally alive with parrots; and, as I
stopped to admire them, I could see that when they opened their vivid
green wings the inner parts were of a brilliant flame colour, and there
was a ruddy orange patch upon the little feathers at the inset of their
tails.

Then we came upon monkeys again, quite a family of them, and instead of
running away and leaping from branch to branch they began to chatter and
shriek and dash about in the greatest excitement, just as if they were
scolding us for coming among them, chattering among themselves directly
after as if meditating an attack.

Before another hour had passed, after noting the beauty of the
butterflies, which seemed to increase in number as we penetrated farther
into the interior, we came next upon an enormous tree full of
gaudily-tinted parroquets, which were nearly as numerous as the parrots
of an hour before.

"We sha'n't want for food, Joe," the doctor said, "so long as we have
plenty of powder; parroquets and parrots are fruit birds, and splendid
eating. Look there."

As he spoke he raised his gun, fired, and directly the report had struck
my ears I saw Jimmy and Gyp set off at full speed.

They returned both at odds, the one growling, the other calling his
rival a bad bunyip dog, but both holding tightly by a large bird, Gyp
having its head, Jimmy the legs.

It proved to be something between a turkey and a pheasant, and from its
look it promised to be good eating, for which purpose it was handed over
to Ti-hi's care.

The leader now bore off a little to our left, the result being that we
once more struck the river, to find it a large swift stream, but not an
attractive place for travellers, since from that one spot where we stood
beneath the shelter of some trees I counted at least twenty crocodiles
floating slowly down, with the protuberances above their eyes just
visible, and here and there at least thirty more lying about on the
muddy banks.

Towards evening, as we were journeying slowly on, Jimmy came running
back to fetch me, and catching me by the hand he led me through some
bushes to where a thickly wooded park-like stretch of land began, and
motioning me to be silent and follow him he crept from tree to tree,